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Ben B. Cheney Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.1M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.5M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3.1 million
  • Assets: $67 million
  • Grants Awarded: 100-150 grants per year
  • Decision Time: 1-2 months (grants under $15,000); 6-9 months (grants over $15,000)
  • Grant Range: $100 - $500,000 (typical grants: $20,000 - $40,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Washington (Pierce County, Olympic Peninsula, Southwest WA), Oregon (Jackson and Josephine Counties), Northern California

Contact Details

Address: 3110 Ruston Way, Suite A, Tacoma, WA 98402-5307
Phone: (253) 572-2442
Email: info@benbcheneyfoundation.org
Website: https://www.benbcheneyfoundation.org/

Overview

The Ben B. Cheney Foundation was established in 1975 following the death of Ben B. Cheney, founder of the Cheney Lumber Company. Since beginning its grantmaking, the Foundation has distributed over $116 million through more than 6,330 grants to over 1,520 organizations. With assets of $67 million and annual giving of approximately $3.1 million, the Foundation focuses on communities where the Cheney Lumber Company once operated across Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. The Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in these communities through grants addressing basic needs, community infrastructure, arts and culture, education, health, and youth development. In 2023, Executive Director Erika Tucci became the first woman to lead the Foundation, succeeding longtime director Brad Cheney who now serves as Board Chair.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation organizes grantmaking into eight categories:

  • Charity: Programs providing basic needs (food, shelter, clothing)
  • Civic: Community quality of life improvements (museums, recreation facilities)
  • Culture: Arts programs and cultural enrichment
  • Education: Capital projects and scholarships (primarily for fourteen pre-selected colleges and universities in the Pacific Northwest)
  • Elderly: Social, health, and recreational programs for older people
  • Health: Healthcare programs and facilities
  • Social Services: Programs serving people with disabilities or special needs
  • Youth: Programs helping young people gain skills to become responsible and productive adults

Geographic Distribution (Typical Year)

  • Pierce County, WA: 20-30 grants / $1.1-$1.4 million
  • Olympic Peninsula, WA: 2-5 grants / $60,000-$80,000
  • Southwest Washington: 5-8 grants / $100,000-$130,000
  • Jackson County, OR: 6-9 grants / $175,000-$200,000
  • Northern California: 2-5 grants / $70,000-$80,000

Priority Areas

The Foundation prefers project grants with specific time periods, accomplishments, and budgets. Recent recipients include MultiCare Health Foundations ($500,000), Emergency Food Network ($250,000), YMCA of Pierce & Kitsap Counties ($200,000), Youth Marine Foundation ($200,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, Charles Wright Academy, United Way of Pierce County, LeMay-America's Car Museum, Washington Center for the Performing Arts, and Fire Mountain Arts Council.

What They Don't Fund

  • Operating budgets
  • Fundraising event sponsorships
  • Religious sectarian purposes
  • Basic research
  • Endowment funds
  • Individual scholarships (except for pre-selected institutions)
  • Conferences and seminars
  • Book, film, or video production

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Bradbury Cheney, Board Chair
  • Carolyn Cheney, Vice Chair
  • Jordan Beckingham, Secretary
  • Matt Beckingham, Treasurer
  • Andrew Cheney
  • Bob Hall
  • Henry Cheney
  • Jamie Foster

Staff

  • Erika Tucci, Executive Director
  • Jenette Warne, Program Officer

Leadership Perspective

Executive Director Erika Tucci emphasizes the Foundation's collaborative approach: "We take great pride in maintaining trusting relationships with community members, so they feel comfortable telling us what they need to help their communities thrive." On collaboration, she states: "Collaboration is everything to us. We would never be able to effectively meet the vision a community has for itself without that community's trust and guidance." She also notes that "Connecting people and building healthy communities is truly at the core of who we aim to be."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

  • Submit a 3-page maximum letter of inquiry through the Foundation's online grant portal
  • Address letter to Erika Tucci, Executive Director
  • No deadlines; accepted year-round
  • Must include:
    • Organization's history and mission
    • Project summary and total budget
    • Specific funding request amount
    • Fundraising plan and progress
    • Details on how grant money will be used

Step 2: Foundation Meeting

  • Staff will initiate invitation to apply after reviewing LOI
  • Face-to-face meeting to discuss project details
  • Foundation will ask about project updates, organizational budget, and fundraising progress

Step 3: Formal Application

  • Invited by Foundation staff only (full proposals accepted by invitation only)
  • Application reviewed by Board of Directors at quarterly board meetings

Decision Timeline

  • Initial LOI Response: 4-6 weeks
  • Small Grants (under $15,000): 1-2 months total
  • Larger Grants (over $15,000): 6-9 months from LOI submission to board decision
  • Board meets quarterly (four times per year)

Reapplication Policy

  • Organizations must wait 2 years after receiving a grant before applying again
  • For declined proposals, the Foundation advises that rewriting rarely addresses the original reasons for rejection

Application Success Factors

Project Readiness is Critical

The Foundation emphasizes that "a formal application generally will not be taken to the board of directors until you have raised at least 50-60% of the fundraising goal in gifts and formal pledges." Grant requests may be turned down or deferred if it appears too early in the project lifecycle.

Demonstrate Community Impact, Not Just Infrastructure

The Foundation advises applicants to "fully develop the vision for what the project will accomplish, recognizing that building a building is not an accomplishment itself—the building is only a tool for accomplishing a larger community good." Focus on the broader community benefit and long-term outcomes.

Tailor Your Application

Do not use template letters for multiple foundations. Letters of inquiry should be specifically tailored to the Ben B. Cheney Foundation and demonstrate understanding of their mission and focus areas.

Secure Major Commitments First

"Key commitments are in place before writing a letter of inquiry, with commitments from top level donors being critical, especially for major capital campaigns."

Letter of Inquiry Must Be Comprehensive

The LOI should "summarize a fully developed proposal, informing the Foundation about the opportunity or problem to be addressed and convincing them that your organization can implement the project." This is not a preliminary inquiry but a comprehensive summary of a ready-to-implement project.

Provide Local Community Data

For organizations in the Foundation's geographic focus areas, provide community-specific data and information demonstrating local impact and need.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic eligibility is essential: The Foundation only funds communities where Cheney Lumber Company operated (Pierce County, Olympic Peninsula, Southwest WA, Jackson/Josephine Counties OR, Northern California). Verify your location before applying.

  • Project grants are strongly preferred: The Foundation does not fund operating budgets. Frame requests around specific projects with clear timelines, measurable accomplishments, and defined budgets.

  • Fundraising progress matters significantly: You must have raised 50-60% of your total goal before the Foundation will take your application to the board. Don't apply too early.

  • Timeline requires patience: For grants over $15,000, plan for a 6-9 month process from initial letter of inquiry to board decision. Budget your timeline accordingly.

  • Relationship-building is valued: Executive Director Erika Tucci emphasizes "trusting relationships with community members" as central to their work. Consider the meeting phase as an opportunity to establish rapport.

  • Community impact is paramount: Don't just describe what you're building or doing—articulate clearly how it will improve quality of life in the community and achieve broader goals.

  • Two-year wait between grants: Plan your funding strategy knowing you cannot reapply for two years after receiving a grant from this Foundation.

References

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